Desperation had the muscles in her face rigid as she stood in front of him, moving closer. A red heat climbed up her neck.

“I can’t let you lie.” He smiled. “Besides, you’re no good at it. And the evidence will clear us.”

Defiance shot from her glare. Her stubborn streak reared its head again. “You don’t get to decide.”

Her gaze was fiery hot. Her body vibrated with intensity as she stalked toward him.

He readied himself for the argument that was sure to come, but she pressed a kiss to his lips instead, shocking the hell out of him.

“There’s been enough fighting for one day. I need something else from you.”

He locked onto her gaze. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No. Not at all. But I need to do it anyway.”

Rancher Rescue
Barb Han

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BARB HAN lives in North Texas with her very own hero-worthy husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky golden retriever/standard poodle mix and too many books in her to-read pile. In her downtime, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She’s passionate about travel, and many of the places she visits end up in her books.

She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support. You can reach her at www.barbhan.com.

MILLS & BOON

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The chance to work with the incredibly talented Allison Lyons is a thrill beyond measure. Thank you for sharing your editing brilliance and giving me the chance to learn from you.

To my agent, Jill Marsal, for all your guidance, encouragement, and patience.

To Jerrie Alexander, my brave friend and critique partner.

To Brandon, who is strength personified; Jacob, who is the most courageous person I know; and Tori, who is brilliant and funny, I love you. This one is for you, Babe.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Excerpt

Chapter One

Katherine Harper pushed up on all fours and spit dirt. “Don’t take him. I’ll do whatever you say.”

The tangle of barbed wire squeezed around her calf. Pain seared her leg.

“She got herself caught.” The man glared down at her. He glanced toward the thicket, sized up the situation and turned to his partner. “She’s not going anywhere.”

The first man whirled around. His lip curled. Hate filled his eyes. “Leave her. We have the boy.”

“Kane won’t like it. He wants them both.”

“No. Please. My nephew has nothing to do with any of this.” She kicked. Burning, throbbing flames scorched her ankle to her thigh. “I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll find the file.”

“We know you will. Involve the police and he’s dead,” the second man warned. “We’ll be in touch.”

Noah screamed for her. She heard the terror in his voice. A wave of hopelessness crashed through her as she struggled against the barbs, watching the men disappear into the woods with her nephew. Oh. God. No.

“He’s sick. He needs medicine,” she screamed through burning lungs.

They disappeared without looking back.

Shards of pain shot up her leg. Fear seized her. The thick trees closed in on her. Noah had been kidnapped, and she was trapped and helpless.

“Please. Somebody.”

The thunder of hooves roared from somewhere in the distance. She sucked in a quick breath and scanned the area. Were more men out there?

Everything had happened so fast. How long had they been dragging her? How far into the woods was she?

All visual reminders of the pumpkin patch were long gone. No open fields or bales of hay. No bursts of orange dotting the landscape. No smells of animal fur and warmth. There was nothing familiar in her surroundings now.

Judging from the amount of blood and the relentless razor-sharp barbs digging into her flesh, she would bleed to death.

No. She wouldn’t die. Noah needed her to stay alive. Noah.

Anger boiled inside her, heating her skin to flames. Katherine had to save him. He had no one else. He was probably terrified, which could bring on an asthma attack. Without his inhaler or medication, the episode could be fatal.

Forcing herself to her feet, she balanced on her good side and hopped. Her foot was slick with blood. Her shoe squished. Her knees buckled. The cold, hard ground punished her shoulder on impact.

She scrambled on all fours and tried to crawl. The barbed wire tightened like a coil. The ache in her leg was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

Exertion wasn’t good. Could she unwrap the mangled wire? Could she free herself? Could she catch up?

Panic pounded her chest. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

The hooves came closer. Had the men sent company? Had her screaming backfired, pinpointing her location?

Autumn foliage blanketed the ground, making it difficult to see if there was anything useful to use against another attacker. She could hide. But where?

The sounds of hooves pounding the unforgiving earth slowed. Near. She swallowed a sob. He could do whatever he wanted to her while she was trapped. Why had she made all that noise?

She fanned her hands across the ground. Was there anything she could use as a weapon? The best one encased her leg, causing a slow bleed. She needed to think. Come up with a plan. Could she use a sharp branch?

Biting back the pain, she scooted behind a tree and palmed a splintered stick.

The thunderous drumming came to a stop. The horse’s labored breath broke through the quiet.

An imposing figure dismounted, muttering a curse. His low rumble of a voice sent chills up her neck.

Her pulse raced.

His boots firmly planted on the ground, Katherine got a good look at him. He was nothing like her attackers. They’d worn dark suits and sunglasses when they’d ambushed her and Noah. Everything about this man was different.

He wore jeans, a button-down shirt and a black cowboy hat. He had broad shoulders and lean hips. At his full height, he had to be at least six foot two, maybe more.

A man who looked genuine and strong like him couldn’t be there for the wrong reasons, could he? Still, who could she trust? Couldn’t murderers be magnetic?

“What in hell is going on?” A shiver raced up her spine as he followed the line of blood that would lead him right to her.

He took a menacing step toward her. Friend or enemy, she was about to come face-to-face with him.

Katherine said a silent protection prayer.

Her equilibrium was off. Her head light. She closed her fingers around the tree trunk tighter. Could she hold on long enough to make her move?

A dimpled chin on a carved-from-granite face leaned toward her. Brown eyes stared at her. She faltered.

Nope. Not a hallucination. This cowboy was real, and she was getting weak. Her vision blurred. She had to act fast.

With a final push, Katherine stepped forward. Her knees buckled and she stumbled.

* * *

INONEQUICKmotion Caleb Snow seized the stick being jabbed at his ribs and pinned the woman to the ground.

She was gorgeous in her lacy white shirt. Her sea-green skirt hiked up her thigh far enough to reveal a peek of her panties. Pale blue. He swallowed hard. Tried not to think about his favorite color caressing her sweet little bottom as he wrestled to keep her from stabbing him. The rest of her was golden skin and long legs. She had just enough curves to make her feel like a real woman, sensual and soft. “What’s wrong with you?”

The tangle of chestnut hair and limbs didn’t speak.

Was she afraid? Of him? Hell no. He took the stick and tossed it. She kicked and punched.

“Hold still. I’m trying to help.”

“No. You’re not.”

“I will as soon as I’m sure you won’t try to poke me with that stick.”

He’d turned his horse the moment he’d heard the screams that sounded half wild banshee, half horror-film victim expecting to help, not be attacked.

“You’re hurting me,” she yelped.

The tremor in her voice sliced through his frustration. Her admission tore through him. The thought he added to her pain hit him hard. “Stop trying to slap me, and I’ll get up.”

Her lips trembled. She looked at him—all big fearful eyes and cherry lips—and his heart squeezed.

Those violet eyes stared up at him, sending a painful recollection splintering through his chest. She had the same look of terror his mother always had right before his father’d raised a hand to her. Caleb buried the memory before it could take hold.

“Listen to me. I’m not going to hurt you.” Her almond-shaped face, olive skin and soft features stirred an inappropriate sexual reaction. Skin-to-skin contact was a bad idea. He shifted more of his weight onto his bent knee.

Her breaths came out in short gasps. “Then let me go. I have to find him before they get away.”

“As soon as I know you’re not gonna do something stupid, I will. You’re not going anywhere until I get this off your leg. You want to tell me what the hell’s going on? Who’s getting away?” Her actions were that of a wounded animal, not a crazed murderer. He eased more weight off her, scanning her for other injuries.

She recoiled. “Who are you?”

“Caleb Snow and this is my ranch.” He picked up the wire to untangle her. Her pained cry pierced right through him. “Sorry about that.” He eased the cable down carefully. “Didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She’d seriously tangled her long, silky leg in barbed wire. She’d lost a lot of blood. He couldn’t have her going into shock. “The more you fight, the worse it’ll get. You’ve done a number on yourself already.”

Her eyelids fluttered.

Based on her pallor, she could lose consciousness if she didn’t hold still. He stood and muttered a curse.

Her wild eyes looked up at him, pleading. “Some men took my nephew. I don’t know who. They went that way.” She motioned toward the McGrath ranch. Her voice cracked and he could see she was struggling not to cry. Tears fell anyway.

“The wire has to come off first. Then we’ll take a look. Don’t watch me. It’ll only hurt worse. Tell me your name.” A stab of guilt pierced him at the pain he was about to cause. The weight of her body had impaled the rusty steel barbs deep into her flesh.

Her head tilted back as she winced. She gasped but didn’t scream, her eyes still radiating distrust.

“Hold on. I have something that can help.” He pulled wire cutters and antibiotic wipes from his saddlebag. He tied a handkerchief below her knee to stem the bleeding.

“Promise you won’t leave me here?”

“Now why would I do that?” One by one, he pulled the barbs out of her skin, giving her time to breathe in between. “Tell me more about the men.”

“They. Were. Big.” The words came through quick bursts of breath.

He pulled the last barb and stuck his hand out, offering a help up.

Hers felt soft and small. A jolt of electricity shot up Caleb’s arm. Normally he’d enjoy feeling a sexual spark. This wasn’t the time or place.

“I need to go that way.” She pointed north, grasping at the tree.

“You’re hurt. On my property, that means you don’t go anywhere until I know you’re okay. Besides, you still haven’t told me why you’re out here to begin with.”

“Where is here?” she asked, dodging his question.

“The TorJake Ranch.” How did she not know where she was? A dozen scenarios came to mind. None he liked. He took a step toward her. She was too weak to put up a fight. He wrapped his arm around her waist for support. “You aren’t going anywhere like this. Start talking and I might be able to help. I have medical supplies at the house. But you’ll explain why you’re on my land or I’ll call the sheriff. We clear?”

“Please. Don’t. I’ll tell you everything.” He’d struck a nerve.

He should call Sheriff Coleman. No good ever came from a woman caught in a situation like this. But something about her made Caleb wait.

“My name is Katherine Harper. I took my nephew to a pumpkin patch.” She glanced around. “I’m not sure which way.”

“The Reynolds’ place.” Was it the fear in her eyes, or the tremble to her lips that hit him somewhere deep? He didn’t care. He was intrigued.

“Sounds right. Anyway, two men in suits came from nowhere and grabbed us. They dragged us through the woods...here...until I got caught up. Then...”

Tears streaked her cheeks. “They took off with him.”

The barbed wire had been cut. The McGrath ranch was on the other side of the fence. He’d have to ask about that. Of course, he preferred to deal with creatures of the four-legged variety or something with a motor.

“We’ll figure this out.”

Caleb assessed her carefully.

Her vulnerable state had his instincts sounding alarm bells.

Chapter Two

Noah was gone. Katherine was hurt. Her only chance to see her nephew again stood next to her. The cowboy’s actions showed he wanted to help. He needed to know the truth. She couldn’t pinpoint the other reason she felt an undeniable urge to confide in the cowboy. But she did.

“My nephew was kidnapped for a reason.” Oh. God. It was almost unbearable to say those words out loud.

His thick brow arched. “Do you know these men?”

She shook her head. “They wanted me to give them a file. Said they knew I had it, but I don’t. I have no idea what they’re talking about.”

The cowboy’s comforting arm tightened around her. Could he really help? Noah was gone and she was desperate.

He pulled out his cell phone.

“I’m calling my foreman, then the sheriff. We’ll cover more ground that way.”

“No police. They insisted. Besides, there’s no time. Let’s use your horse. We might be able to catch them. Noah needs medicine.” She moved to step forward. Pain nearly buckled her knees. Her vision blurred.

“Hold on there,” he said, righting her again with a firm hand. “We’ll find him, but I’m bringing in the law.”

“They’ll hurt—”

“I doubt it. Think about it. They’d say anything to back you off. There’s no chance to find him otherwise.” He turned to his call. “Matt, grab a few men and some horses. We have a situation. A boy’s been taken. Looks like they might’ve crossed over to the McGrath place with him. I want every square inch of both properties scoured. And call the sheriff.” His gaze met Katherine’s, and her heart clutched. He was right. They were most likely bluffing.

She nodded.

“There are two men dressed in suits. Could be dangerous.” His attention shifted to her. “How old is your nephew?”

“Four.” With reinforcements on the way, she dared to think she could get Noah back safely before the sun went down.

A muscle in the cowboy’s jaw ticked. “You heard that, right?” A beat later came, “Somebody cut the fence on the north corner. Jimmy’s been running this side. Ask him how things were the other day when he came this way.”

Katherine looked at the barbed wire. The last bit of hope this could have been a bad dream shriveled and died.

“Tell the men to be careful.” Caleb took more of her weight as he pocketed his phone. “I’ve got you.”

“I’m fine.” Katherine struggled to break free from his grip. Her brain was scrambled. She’d been dragged through this area thinking it had been a random trail, but how could it be? They’d cut the fence in advance. Everything about them seemed professional and planned. But what kind of file could she possibly have for men like them?

The cowboy’s strong grip tightened around her as she fought another wave of nausea. “I think I’ll be fine once I get on your horse.”

“My men are all over this. Matt’s phoning the sheriff as we speak. I need to get you home where I can take care of your injuries. The sheriff will need to speak to you for his report.”

“The longer I wait, the farther away Noah will be.” She had no purse, no ID and no money. Those had been discarded along with his medicine. Everything she’d had with her was scattered between here and the pumpkin patch.

His brow arched. “You won’t make it a mile in your condition.”

“I can. I have to.” Katherine tried to put weight on her foot. Her knee buckled. He pulled her upright again with strong arms. He was powerful, male and looked as though he could handle himself against just about any threat.

Caleb shook his head. “Hell, I’d move heaven and earth if I were in your situation. But you’re hurt.”

“He needs me. He’s little and scared. You can’t possibly understand.” Her voice hitched.

The lines in the cowboy’s forehead deepened. “We’ll cut through the McGraths’ on the way to the house. How’s that?”

His arms banded around her hips. Arms like his would be capable of handling anyone or anything they came across. He lifted her onto the saddle with no effort and then swung up behind her.

“I need to make sure you’re going to be around long enough to greet him. You let infection set in and that leg will be no use to you anymore.”

She didn’t argue. Fatigue weighted her limbs, drained her energy. If he could fix her leg, she could find Noah.

Taking the long way around didn’t unearth any clues about Noah’s whereabouts. The sky was darkening. Night would fall soon.

The house coming into view was a white two-story Colonial with a wraparound porch and dark green shutters. An impressive set of barns sat behind the house. There was a detached garage with a basketball hoop off to the side. This was a great place for kids.

Katherine hadn’t stopped once to realize this man probably had a family of his own. The image of him cradling a baby edged its way into her thoughts. The contrast between something so tiny and vulnerable against his bare steel chest brought shivers up her arms.

Did he have a son? His reaction to Noah’s age made more sense.

She prayed Noah would be home in bed before the sun vanished. Was he still panicked? Could he breathe? Did he have time before the next attack? Did she?

What would happen when the men came after her again if she couldn’t produce the file?

She shrugged off the ice trickling down her spine. Police would need a description of the attackers. She had to think. The last thing she remembered was being hauled through the woods. She ran so long her lungs burned. The next thing she knew, she was facedown in the dirt. The men had disappeared. She’d lost everything.

“Lean toward me. I’ll catch you.” Caleb stood next to the horse.

One of his calloused but gentle hands splayed on the small of her back. He carried her inside as if she weighed nothing and placed her on the sofa in the front room. He lifted her bloody leg to rest on top of the polished knotty-pine coffee table.

The smell of spices and food warming sent a rumble through her stomach. How long had she been dragged? She wouldn’t be able to eat, but how long could Noah go without food? Was he hungry?

“Margaret, grab my emergency bag,” Caleb shouted before turning to Katherine. “Margaret helps me out with cleaning and cooking. Keeps me and my boys fed.”

So he did have children. Katherine figured a place with this kind of space had to have little ones running around. Noah would have loved it here.

A round woman padded into the room. A salt-of-the-earth type with a kind face, she looked to be in her late fifties. Her expression dropped. “What happened?”

Caleb gave her a quick rundown before introducing them. “I’ll need clean towels, a bowl of warm water and something for Katherine to drink. Some of these gashes are deep.”

Margaret returned with supplies. “If anyone can find your nephew, it’s this man.”

Margaret’s sympathetic expression melted some of Katherine’s resolve. “Thank you.”

“You look like you’re in pain. Tell me where it hurts.”

“My head. Stomach.” Her hand pressed against her midsection to stave off another round of nausea. “But I’ll be fine.”

“Of course you will. You’re in good hands.” She set a cup of tea next to Katherine. “This’ll help.”

She thanked the housekeeper, smiled and took a sip. “Tastes good.”

“Would you mind grabbing the keys to my truck? Call the barn, too. I rode Dawn again. Ask Teddy to put her up for the night.” Caleb patted one of Katherine’s gashes with antibiotic ointment.

She gasped, biting back a scream. “Now that I’m okay, we’re going to find them ourselves, right?”

“I’m taking you to the E.R.”

“No.” Shaking her head made everything hurt that much worse. “I can’t leave. Your guys will find Noah and bring him here, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then the only reason I’d walk out that door is to help search for him. I won’t leave here without him. He needs me and his meds.”

She expected a fight but got a nod of agreement instead.

Caleb went back to work carefully blotting each gash without saying another word. Trying to distract herself from the pain, Katherine studied the room. The decor was simple. Substantial, hand-carved wood furniture surrounded the fireplace, which had a rust-colored star above the mantel. The cushions were soft. The place was more masculine than she figured it would be. There had to be a woman somewhere in the picture. A protective, gorgeous man like Caleb had to have a beautiful wife. And kids. She’d already envisioned him holding his child. She could easily see him with two or three more.

There was one problem. Nothing was out of place. She knew from spending the past week with Noah, kids left messes everywhere. “I hope your wife doesn’t get the wrong impression when she sees a strange woman on your sofa.”

Caleb didn’t look up. “I’m single.”

Had she met him under other circumstances, the admission would’ve caused a thousand tiny butterflies to flutter in her stomach. But now she could only think about Noah.

“Do you want to call Noah’s parents and let them know what’s going down?”

“No. There’s no one else. His mother died. I’m all he’s got.” The poor kid.

Her sister, Leann, had always been the reckless one. Everything had been fun and games and risk for her. Now she was gone and Noah was in trouble.

A hundred questions danced across Caleb’s intense brown eyes. To his credit, he didn’t ask any of them.

Katherine figured he deserved to know the truth. “She died in a climbing accident at Enchanted Rock a week ago. She was ‘bouldering,’ which apparently means you don’t use safety equipment. You’re supposed to have people spot you, but she didn’t.”

Caleb’s jaw did that tick thing again. She’d seen it before when he’d seemed upset and held his tongue. Did he have something he wanted to say now?

“Sorry for your loss. This must be devastating for you. What about Noah’s father?”

“She...the two of them...lived in Austin alone. She never told me who his father was. As far as I know, no one else has a clue, either. My sister may have been reckless with her actions but she could keep a secret.” Katherine wondered what else she didn’t know about Leann.

“Be easy enough to check out the birth certificate.”

A half-laughed, half-exacerbated sigh slipped out. “She put down George Clooney.”

If Caleb thought it funny, he didn’t laugh.

Katherine cleared her throat. “I doubt if the father knows about Noah. Leann never told anyone who she dated. Not even me. I never knew the names of her boyfriends. When she spoke about them, they all had movie-star nicknames.”

“There must’ve been a pattern to it.”

Katherine shrugged. “Never gave it much thought before. Figured it was just for fun.”

His reassuring nod comforted her.

“You two were close?”

“Our relationship was complicated, but I’m...was...fiercely protective of her.” Katherine squeezed her elbows, not wanting to say what she really feared. Her sister had shucked responsibility and become involved with something or someone bad, and now both Katherine and Noah were in danger. Things had been turning around for Leann. Why would she do it?

Katherine tamped down the panic rising in her chest.

No one could hurt Noah.

She had to believe he would come home safely. Even though every fiber in her being feared he was already panicked, struggling to breathe. What if she found him and couldn’t help? Her purse was lost along with his medicine.

One of Caleb’s eyebrows lifted. “What about her friends?”

“I don’t have the first idea who they were. My sister was a free spirit. She moved around a lot. Took odd jobs. I don’t know much about her life before Noah. It wasn’t until recently she contacted me at all.” Had Leann known something was about to happen? Was she connected to the file?

Caleb didn’t look at her. He just went back to work on her leg, cleaning blood and blotting on ointment.

Oh, God. Bile rose in her throat. Acid burned a trail to her mouth. “No news is definitely not good news.”

“There aren’t a lot of places to hide. If your nephew’s around here, we’ll find him. My men know this property better than they know their own mothers.”

His comfort was hollow. A wave of desperation washed through her. If the men got off the property with Noah, how would she ever locate him?

“You hungry?”

“You know, I’m starting to feel much better.” She tried to push up, but her arms gave out.

“Eat. Rest. The pain in your leg is only beginning. You must’ve twisted your ankle when you fell. It’s swelling. Stay here. Keep it elevated. I’ll check in with my men.”

Caleb disappeared down the hall, returning a moment later with a steaming bowl in one hand and a bag of ice in the other. He’d removed his cowboy hat, revealing sandy-blond hair that was cut tight but long and loose enough to curl at the ends.

He set down the bowl before placing a pillow behind her head and ice on her ankle. He pulled out his cell while she ate the vegetable soup Margaret had prepared.

There was a knock at the front door. Katherine gasped. Her pulse raced.

* * *

CALEB’SEYESMETKatherine’s and the power of that one look shot straight to his core. Her on his couch, helpless, with those big eyes—a shade of violet that bordered on purple in this light—made him wish he could erase her pain.

He let Sheriff Coleman in. The officer’s tense expression reflected Caleb’s emotions. “Your coming by on short notice is much appreciated.”

Coleman tipped his hat, a nod to the mutual respect they’d built for one another in the years Caleb had owned the ranch.

“My men are out looking as we speak. I’ll need more details to file the report.”

Caleb introduced Coleman to Katherine. “This is the boy’s aunt. He was with her at the Reynolds’ pumpkin patch when it happened.”

Sheriff Coleman tilted his head toward Katherine. His lips formed a grim line. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything you remember.”

She talked about the pumpkin patch.

“Do you have a picture we can work with?” he asked, looking up from his notepad.

Her head shook, her lips trembled, but she didn’t cry. “No. I don’t. Lost them along with my purse and everything else I had with me. Not that it would do any good. He’s only been living with me for a week. We haven’t been down to clean his mother’s apartment yet. I don’t have many of his things. A few toys. His favorite stuffed animal.”

She rambled a little. Not many women could hold it together under this much duress. Her strength radiated a flicker of light in the darkest shadows of Caleb. Places buried long ago, which were best left alone.

“Let’s go over the description then,” Coleman suggested.

“Black hair. Big brown eyes. Three and a half feet tall. About forty pounds. He’s beautiful. Round face. Full cheeks. Curly hair. Features of an angel.”

“And the men who took him?” he pressed.

“One of them had gray eyes and a jagged scar from the left side of his lip. He had a dark tan.”

“How big was the scar?”

“Not more than a couple of inches. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.” She sobbed, but quickly straightened her shoulders and shook it off.

The sheriff glanced away, giving her a moment of space. Caleb dropped his gaze to the floor, respecting her tenacity even more.

“He mentioned the name Kane. He said ‘Kane wouldn’t like it.’”

“We’ll run the name against the database.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not much to go on. My nephew is alone. Sick. Scared. If he gets too upset, he could have an attack. Without his inhaler or medication, he won’t be able to breathe.”

Silence sat in the air for a beat.

Coleman cleared his throat. If Caleb didn’t know any better, he’d say the sheriff had moisture in his eyes. In this small town, they didn’t deal with a lot of violent crime.

“We’ll do everything we can to bring him back to you safe and sound. That’s a promise,” Coleman said.

“Thank you.”

“What’s Noah’s last name?”

“Foster.”

“You said you haven’t had a chance to clean out his mother’s place. Where’s that?”

“Austin.”

“That where you’re from?”

She shook her head. “I live in Dallas.”

Caleb could’ve told the sheriff that. She had a polished, city look. The jeweled sandals on her feet were one of the most impractical shoes she could wear to the country aside from spiked heels.

“When’s his birthday?”

“March. The seventeenth.”

Caleb looked at her. He could see the tension in her face muscles and the stress threatening to crack, but to her credit, she kept her composure. Probably needed to be strong more than she needed air. Caleb knew the feeling for reasons he didn’t want to talk about, either.

He’d known she was different from any other woman he’d met when he’d showed up to help her and she’d thanked him with a makeshift knife to his ribs. Hell, he respected her for it now that he knew the circumstances. She’d probably believed he was working with whoever had taken Noah and that he’d showed up to finish the job. She’d bucked up for a fight.

When she pushed herself up, it took everything in him not to close the distance between them and pull her into his arms for comfort. No one should have to go through this alone.

If Katherine Harper wanted to do this her way, he wouldn’t block her path.

The sheriff asked a few more routine-sounding questions, listening intently to her answers. “You fight with anyone lately? A boyfriend?”

Caleb tried not to look as though he cared about the answer to that question. He had no right to care.

Katherine looked down. “Nope. No boyfriend.”

“What about other family?”

“None. My parents died during my freshman year of college.”

He didn’t want to think about what that would do to a person.

Coleman asked a few more questions about family. Katherine looked uncomfortable answering.

“I’ll notify my men to keep an eye out for your belongings. What were you doing out here with your nephew?”

“I wanted to take his mind off things. Get him out of the city. We planned our trip all day yesterday. He’d never seen a pumpkin patch. He loved the open space. I didn’t think much about letting him run around. We’ve been in my small apartment all week. Didn’t look to be anything or anyone else around for miles. He followed a duck out to the tree line. When I went over to take pictures, two men came from nowhere and snatched us. I panicked. Couldn’t believe what was happening. I remember thinking, ‘This can’t be.’ I fought back. That’s when I ended up tangled in the barbed wire and they took off. If only I hadn’t been so stubborn. If I hadn’t fought.”

“Don’t blame yourself for this,” Coleman said quickly.

“They told me if I came any closer or called the police, they’d kill him.”

The sheriff nodded, but Caleb caught a flash behind Coleman’s eyes. Caleb made a mental note to ask about that when they were alone.

“Ever see them before or hear their voices?” Coleman’s gaze was trained on his notepad as he scribbled.

“No. Nothing about them was familiar. They asked for a file, but I don’t have the first clue what they were talking about. Wondered if they’d confused us with someone else.”

Katherine continued, “I don’t remember tossing my purse or jacket, but I must’ve ditched them both somewhere along the way. Noah needs his medicine.”

“We’ll check between here and the Reynolds’ place.” The sheriff glanced at his watch. “Should have another half hour of daylight to work with.”

“My car’s still over there. Can’t move it until I find my keys.” She made a move to stand.

Caleb took a step toward her. The real estate between them disappeared in two strides. “You’re too weak. Matt can get your car as soon as we find your purse. For now, I’ll give the Reynolds a call. Make sure they don’t have it towed.”

Caleb phoned his neighbor and gave a quick rundown of the situation. He asked if anyone had reported anything or found a purse.

They hadn’t.

Caleb finished the call solemnly. There wasn’t much to go on, and time ticked away.

“I feel like I should be doing something besides sitting here,” Katherine said to the sheriff.

“Best thing you can do is wait it out. Let my men do their work. I’ll put out an AMBER Alert.” Sheriff Coleman shook her hand and then walked to the door. “In the meantime, sit tight right here in case I have more questions. Let me know if anything else suspicious happens or you remember anything that might be important.”

If Caleb heard things right, he’d just picked up a houseguest. Couldn’t say he was especially disappointed. “You’ll call as soon as you hear anything, right?”

“You bet.”

Caleb thanked the sheriff and walked him out the door.

Outside, Caleb folded his arms. “What do you think?”

Coleman scanned his notes. He rocked back on his heels. “Not sure. Kids are most often taken by a family member. Don’t see many kidnappings. Especially not out here.”

“Doesn’t sound good.”

The sheriff dropped his gaze for a second and shook his head.

“What are the chances of finding him alive?”

“The odds are better if he was taken by a relative. Doesn’t sound like the case here.” Coleman broke eye contact. “That’s a whole different ball game.”

The words were a sucker punch to Caleb’s chest.

“I’d appreciate hearing any news or leads you come across firsthand.” Last thing Caleb wanted was for Katherine to learn what had happened to her nephew over the internet or on the news.

“Of course. There’s always the possibility he got away and will turn up here. The first twenty-four hours are the most critical.”

The thought of a little boy wandering around lost and alone in the dark woods clenched Caleb’s gut. “Why’d they threaten to kill him if she called the police?”

“They probably want to keep this quiet. To scare her. Who knows? She’s not a celebrity or politician. Why would someone target her? We need to find her phone. In the meantime, have her make a list of enemies. Ask her if she’s gotten into a fight with anyone lately. Could someone have a problem with her or her sister? Without her cell, we don’t know if anyone’s trying to contact her to make demands.”

Caleb shook Coleman’s hand before he got in his cruiser and pulled away.

He stood on the porch for a long moment, looking out at the landscape that had kept him from getting too restless for years. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. This was home. And yet, an uneasy feeling crept over him.

Chapter Three

Matt’s black pickup roared down the drive. Caleb walked to meet his foreman. “Find anything?”

“There’s nothing around for miles. Whoever did this got away fast.”

The whole scenario seemed calculated, ruling out the slight possibility this was a case of mistaken identity. “You checked with the McGraths?”

Matt nodded. “They haven’t seen or heard anything all day. Gave us the okay to search their property and barn. I sent Jimmy and Greg over to the Reynolds’, too. Not a trace. No one saw anything, either. There’s nothing but her word to go on.” Worry showed in the tight muscles of his face. “I gotta ask. You think it’s possible she could be making this up?”

Caleb ground his back teeth. “This is real. She has the bumps and bruises to prove it.”

“It was a crappy question but needed to be asked. There’s no trail to follow. No other signs she’s telling the truth. Could the marks be from something else?”

“You didn’t see her. The terror in her eyes. The blood. I had to cut her free from the fencing. Dig barbs out of her leg.”

“Stay with me for a minute. I’m just sayin’. Where’s the proof she even has a nephew? How do we know all the mechanical stuff upstairs is oiled and the cranks are working with her?”

The point was valid. If he hadn’t been the one to find her, he might wonder if she was crazy, too. But he had been the one. Her tortured expression might haunt him for the rest of his life. She’d faced the hell in front of her with her chin up. He didn’t doubt her. “I hear you and I understand your concerns. I do. But you’re off base.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I just know.”

Matt cocked one eyebrow. “Okay...how?”

“Call it gut instinct.”

“Then I’ll take your word for it. I’ll give her a ride wherever she wants to go.” He took a step toward the house.

“Sheriff wants her to stick around.”

Matt hesitated. His doubt about the situation was written all over his face. To his credit, he seemed to know when to hold his tongue. He turned toward the barn. “Be careful. You have a tendency to get too involved with creatures that need saving. I’ll check on the boys out back.”

It would be dark before too long. The sun, a bright orange glow on the horizon, was retreating. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”

As soon as Caleb walked inside, Katherine hit him with the first question.

“What did the sheriff say?” She stroked the little yellow tabby who had made herself at home in her lap.

“How’d you manage that?” He inclined his chin toward the kitty.

She shrugged. “She hopped on the couch and curled up. She’s a sweet girl. Why?”

“Claws has been afraid of people ever since I brought her into the house.”

“How’d she lose her leg?”

“Found her like that when I was riding fences one day. She was in pretty bad shape. Vet fixed her up, and she’s been my little shadow ever since. Scratched the heck out of Matt the first time he picked her up. Usually hides when I have company.”

Claws purred as Katherine scratched under her chin. “Can’t imagine who would hurt such a sweet girl.” She paused, and then locked gazes. “You were going to tell me what the sheriff said.”

“That he’d contact me if they found anything. Do you remember what else you were doing before the men showed up?”

“We’d bought a jar of local honey. We were picking out pumpkins to take home with us.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s it. That’s all I remember.”

Caleb moved to the side table and picked up the empty soup bowl. “You drink coffee?”

“Yes.”

“Give me five minutes. In the meantime, sheriff wants a list of names. Anyone who might’ve been out to hurt your sister. Or you.”

He put down the bowl, took a pen and paper from a side table drawer and placed it next to her before moving into the kitchen.

She was making scribbles on the sheet of paper when he returned and handed her a cup. “Wasn’t sure how you took yours.”

“Black is fine.” She gripped the mug. “What’s next? How long does the sheriff expect me to sit here and do nothing?”

“Waiting’s hard. Believe me, everything that can be done is happening. The authorities have all their resources on this. My men are filling the gaps. It’s best to stay put until the sheriff calls. Give yourself a chance to heal. How’s your leg?”

“Better. Thank you.”

His bandage job looked to be holding. “What was the last thing you remembered before Noah was...” Damn. He hated saying the word taken out loud.

“I don’t know. After the pumpkins, we were going on a hayride. I’d gone over to tell him. He was playing with the really big ones on the edge of the patch. Near the woods. I took pictures of him climbing on them. If we can find my phone, I can supply the sheriff with a recent photo.”

“Think you might have captured the guys on your camera?”

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll notify the sheriff.”

Caleb phoned Coleman and provided an update. The hunt for her belongings intensified. They might find answers. At the very least, Matt would believe her if she could produce a picture of her nephew. Why did that seem so important?

“Think they saw you snapping shots?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know.”

“Did Noah scream?”

“They covered his mouth at the same time they grabbed him around the waist. Didn’t bother once we got out of range.” Sadness, desperation, fear played out across her features. “Please tell me we’ll find him. I don’t know what they want. If I can’t produce a file, I’m afraid they’ll take it out on him.”

Caleb moved from his spot on the love seat to the couch and draped an arm around her. “We won’t allow it. We’ll figure it out.”

“I wish I’d been thinking more clearly. I panicked. Dropped everything. If I had those pics now, we might have a direction.”

Five raps on the door—Matt’s signature knock—came before the door sprang open. His foreman rushed in holding a black purse.

Claws darted under the sofa.

Katherine strained to push off the couch. “You found it.”

“The boys did.” Matt’s gaze moved from Caleb to Katherine. His brow furrowed and a muscle along his jaw twitched.

“Any luck with my phone?”

“This is all we got before we ran out of daylight. All the men in the county are involved. A few want to keep going. The rest will pick up the search tomorrow.”

Matt handed the bag to Katherine. She immediately dumped out the contents, palming Noah’s pill bottle and inhaler.

“Did you let Coleman know?” Caleb asked.

Matt nodded. “Sure did. There’s something else you should know. Thanks to that little bit of rain we got the other day, one of the boys located four-wheeler tracks on the McGrath farm on the other side of the fence near where you said you found her.”

Matt couldn’t deny she’d told the truth now.

Katherine was already digging around the large tote, tossing snack bags and juice boxes onto the sofa. “It all happened so fast. I can’t even remember where I put my phone. I just remember taking photographs one minute, then the world spinning out of control the next. I wouldn’t even believe any of this myself if it hadn’t happened to me. I keep feeling like all of this is some kind of bad dream, and I’ll wake up any second to find everything back to normal. Noah will be here with me. My sister will be alive.”

As if shaking off the heavy thoughts, Katherine jammed her hand back inside her bag. Blood soaked through one section of the gauze on her leg.

“If you won’t let me take you to the hospital, you’ll have to listen to what I say. We have to keep this elevated.” Caleb curled his fingers around her calf and lifted, watching for any signs he hurt her. Based on her grimace, her darkening eyes, she was winning the fight against the pain. When the shock and adrenaline wore off later, she’d be in for it. He didn’t like the idea of her being home alone in Dallas when it happened.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m not thinking clearly. This whole ordeal has me scattered. Waiting it out will drive me insane.”

Caleb didn’t even want to think about the possibility of not finding her nephew.

Big violet eyes stared at him. “It’s gone. I must’ve still been holding it. They have no way to contact me. What if they’ve called already? What if they’ve...”

“Sleep here tonight.” Caleb ignored Matt’s sharp intake of breath. He hadn’t planned to make the offer. It just came out.

* * *

“I’DGETIN your way. Besides, you have plenty to do to keep busy without me underfoot,” Katherine argued without conviction.

“If you stay here, I’ll be able to keep an eye on your leg and get some work done.”

Going back to her one-bedroom apartment was about as appealing as sleeping alone in a cave. Her keys were in her purse, but she doubted she could drive. Even though Noah had only been there a week, she couldn’t face going home without him. Staying at the ranch, being this near Caleb, provided a measure of strength and comfort.

His warm brown eyes darkened. “I can have Margaret turn down the bed in the guest room. Doesn’t make sense for you to go anywhere.”

“I don’t want to be rude. I just...”

Frustration, exhaustion was taking hold. It had been three long hours since the ordeal began.

“No reason to leave. This is best place to be for now.”

Caleb seemed the type of guy who took care of anyone and everyone he came across. Cowboy code or something. Still, she didn’t want to abuse his goodwill. “Thank you for everything you’ve done so far, but—”

“It’s no trouble.”

Matt ran the toe of his boot along the floor. “Think they’ll call her house?”

“I saw no need for a landline.”

The cowboy sat on the edge of the coffee table. “Then it’s settled. You stay. Agreed?”

“For tonight.”

Matt quickly excused himself and disappeared down the hall. What was that all about?

The cowboy followed.

Her heart gave a little skip at the satisfied smile on his face. She refocused on the sheet of paper. Who would want something from Leann? What file could she possibly have? A manila folder? Computer file?

Why on earth would they think Katherine had it? If they knew Leann at all, they’d realize she could keep a secret. The last thing she would do was confide in her sister.

Maybe a trip to Austin would help? She could start with Leann’s computer.

She rubbed her temples to ease the pounding between her eyes. Other than playing with the pumpkins, had Noah spoken to anyone? Had she?

There had to have been at least a dozen other people around. Were any of them in on it? A chill raced up her spine.

Caleb reappeared, holding a crutch. “I should take another look at that ankle before you put any weight on it.”

“I just remembered something. There was a man talking to me while I was in line to buy tickets for the hayride.”

His rich brown eyes lifted to meet hers and her heart faltered.

“He could’ve been there to distract you.”

Panic at reliving the memory gripped her. She buried her face in her hands. “I’m so scared. What will they do to him?”

He cupped her chin, lifting her face until her eyes met his. “You can’t think like that.”

“He has to be terrified. He’s so vulnerable and alone. I’m praying they haven’t hurt him. He’s been through so much already. I was supposed to take care of him. Protect him. Keep him safe.”

“If he’s half as strong as his aunt, he’ll be all right.” She could tell by his set jaw he meant it.

She almost laughed out loud. Little did he know how weak and miserable she felt, and her heart was fluttering with him so close, which could not be more inappropriate under the circumstances. “I promised on my sister’s grave I would look after him. Look what I did.”

The weight of those words sat heavier than a block of granite. Panic squeezed her chest. Her breath labored.

Brown eyes, rich, the color of newly turned fall leaves, set in an almost overwhelmingly attractive face stared at her. Before she could protest, his hand guided her face toward his shoulder.

“Don’t blame yourself,” he soothed. “Talk like that won’t bring him back.” His voice was a low rumble.

This close she could breathe in his scent. He smelled of fresh air and outdoors, masculine and virile. His mouth was so close to hers she could feel his cinnamon-scented breath on her skin.

She’d felt so alone, so guilty, and then suddenly this handsome cowboy was offering comfort.

Caleb pulled away too soon. Her mind was still trying to wrap itself around the fact a room could be charged with so much tension in less than a second, and in the next she could feel so guilty for allowing herself to get caught up in it.

The sounds of boots scuffling across tiles came from the other room. He inclined his chin toward the kitchen. “Sounds like we have company.”

He stood and held out his hand.

By the time Katherine limped into the kitchen with Caleb’s help, the table was filled with men. As soon as they saw her, chatter stopped and they stood. There were half a dozen cowboys surrounding the table.

“Ma’am.” Matt tipped his hat.

She smiled, nodded.

Caleb led her to the sink to wash her hands and blot her face with a cool, wet towel.

“Take my seat,” he said, urging her toward the head of the table.

Matt leaned forward, staring, lips pinched together.

As soon as she thanked the cowboy and sat, conversation resumed.

He handed her a plate of ribs and beans. She smiled up at him to show her gratitude.

He brought her fresh iced tea before making his own fixings and seating himself at the breakfast bar.

She looked down the table at the few guys. These must be the boys he’d referred to earlier.

Yep, he took care of everyone around him, including her.

* * *

WHENDINNERWASover, Caleb excused himself and moved to the back porch. Remnants of Katherine’s unique smell, a mix of spring flowers and vanilla, filled his senses when he was anywhere near her. He had to detach and analyze the situation. He needed a clear head. He could think outside.

Katherine had clearly been through hell. An unexpected death and a kidnapping within a week?

Before he could get too deep into that thought, the screen door creaked open and Matt walked out.

“Tough situation in there,” he said, nodding toward the house.

“You believe her now?”

“Hard to dispute the evidence.” He held his toothpick up to the light. “I didn’t mean to insult her before. I didn’t know what to believe.”

“Can’t say I wouldn’t be suspicious, too, if I hadn’t seen her moments after the fact.”

“I know you’re planning to help, and it’s the right thing to do, but is there something going on between you two?”

He clamped his mouth shut. Shock momentarily robbed his voice.

“No. Of course not. I met her five minutes ago. What makes you think otherwise?”

“You have a history of getting involved with women in crisis.”

“I’d help anyone who needed it.”

“True.”

Matt didn’t have to remind him of what he already knew. He had a knack for attracting women in trouble. Did he feel an attraction to Katherine? Yes. Was she beautiful? Yes. But he knew better than to act on it. The last time he’d rescued a woman, she’d returned the favor by breaking his heart. She’d let him help her, but then deserted him. He needed to keep his defenses up and not get involved with Katherine the way he did with the others. Period.

That being said, he wouldn’t turn away a woman in trouble. Did this have something to do with his twisted-up childhood? He was pretty damn sure Freud would think so.

Tension tightened Matt’s face. “Just be careful. When the last one walked out, she took a piece of you with her. You haven’t been the same since.”

“Not going to happen again.”

Matt arched his brow. “If I’m honest, I’m also bothered by the fact there’s a kid involved.”

Figured. Caleb knew exactly what his friend was talking about. “My ex and her little girl have nothing to do with this.”

“No? You sure about that?”

“I don’t see how Katherine’s nephew being kidnapped has anything to do with my past,” Caleb said. Impatience edged his tone.

“A woman shows up at your door with a kid in crisis and you can’t see anything familiar about it? I’ve known you a long time—”

“You don’t have to remind me.”

“Then you realize I wouldn’t come out of the blue with something. I think your judgment’s clouded.” Matt’s earnest eyes stared into Caleb. His buddy had had a ringside seat to the pain Cissy had caused when she’d walked out, taking Savannah with her. Matt’s intentions were pure gold, if not his reasoning.

“I disagree.” He couldn’t deny or explain his attraction to Katherine. It was more than helping out a random person in need. He could be honest with himself. He probably felt a certain amount of pull toward her because of the child involved. No doubt, the situation tugged at his heart. But he’d only just met her. He’d help her. She’d leave. Whether she was wearing his favorite color on her underwear or not, they’d both move on. He had no intention of finding out if the pale blue lace circled her tiny waist. He was stubborn, not stupid. “Nothing else matters until we find that little guy.”

“Saw the sheriff earlier.” Matt’s hands clenched. “Heard about the boy having a medical condition. What kind of person would snatch a little kid like that?”

Matt didn’t use the word monster, but Caleb knew his buddy well enough to know he thought it.

“That’s what I plan to find out.”

“You know I’ll help in any way I can. Then she can go home, and you can get on with your life.”

Caleb chewed on a toothpick. “How are the men taking everything?”

“Hard. Especially with Jimmy’s situation. He’s still out searching.”

“Meant to ask how his little girl’s doing when I saw him tonight.”

Matt shook his head. “Not good.”

Damn. “Send ’em home. They need to be with their families.”

“I think most of them want to be here to keep searching. Jimmy made up flyers. A few men headed into town to put the word out. Everyone wants to help with the search. They’re working out shifts to sleep.”

“Tell ’em how much I appreciate their efforts. We’ll do everything we can to make sure this boy comes home safe. And we won’t stop looking for him until we do.”

Matt nodded, his solemn expression intensifying when he said, “You be careful with yourself, too.”

“This is not like the others.”

“You don’t know that yet,” Matt said, deadpan.

Caleb bit back his response. Matt’s heart was in the right place. “Tell Gus I can’t meet tomorrow. I know the buyer wants to stop by, but I can’t.”

“This is the third time he’s set up a meeting. You haven’t liked anyone he’s found so far.”

“Can’t dump my mare on the first person that strolls in.”

“Or the second...or third apparently. Every time we breed her, the same thing happens. It’s been three years and not one of her foals has lived.”

“Which is exactly the reason I don’t want to sell her. What will end up happening to her when they realize she can’t produce? Besides, she’s useful around here.”

“How so? The men use four-wheelers so it won’t do any good to assign her to one of them. I have my horse and you have yours.”

“I’ll find more for her to do. Dawn’s getting older. I’ll use both. Not all lost causes are lost causes.”

Matt’s eyebrow rose as he turned toward the barn. “We’ll see.”

* * *

CALEBHADBEENburied in paperwork for a couple hours when Katherine appeared in his office doorway, leaning on the crutch.

“Mind some company?”

She wore an oversize sleep shirt and loose-fitting shorts cinched above the hips. Even clothes two sizes too big couldn’t cloak her sexy figure. Her soft curves would certainly get a man fantasizing about what was beneath those thin threads.

“Sure. Where’d you get the clothes?”

“Margaret put these on the bed with a note saying they belonged to her daughter. Even said I could borrow them as long as I needed to. I managed to clean up without getting my leg wet. I took a nap. I’m feeling much better.”

Katherine sat in the oversize leather chair Caleb loved. It was big enough for two. Claws hopped up a second later, curling in her lap.

“Any word from the sheriff yet?”

“No. I put in a call to him. Should hear back any minute. If your leg is feeling better in the morning, I thought we could head to Austin.”

“I want to stay here and search for my phone.”

“We’ll look first. Then we’ll head out. Any chance you have a copy of your sister’s keys?”

“Afraid not.”

“We’ll get in anyway.”

She cocked her head and pursed her lips. “Tell me not to ask why you know how to break in someone’s house.”

Caleb cracked a smile as he rubbed his temples. “Misspent youth. Besides, some secrets a man takes to his grave.” He chuckled. “I’ve been thinking. You have any idea if Noah’s father knew about him?”

Katherine heaved a sigh, twirling her fingers through Claws’s fur. “I should but don’t. My sister’s relationships were complicated. Especially ours.”

“Families can be tricky,” Caleb agreed.

“When our parents got in the car crash my freshman year of college, I resented having to come home to take care of her.” Katherine dropped her gaze. “I probably made everything worse. Did everything wrong.”

“Not an easy situation to be thrown into.”

Katherine’s lips trembled but no tears came.

“Leann had always been something of a free spirit. Her life was lived without a care in the world. I was the one who stressed over grades and stayed home on Friday nights to study or to help out around the house. My parents owned a small business and worked long hours. I was used to being alone. Leann, on the other hand, was always out with friends. The two of us couldn’t have been more opposite. Sometimes I wished I could have been more like her. Instead, I came down on her hard. Tried to force her to be more like me.”

“You had no choice but to be serious. Sounds like you were the one who had to grow up.” She was a survivor who coped the best way she could.

“What about your parents?” She turned the tables.

“My mom was a saint. The man who donated sperm? A jerk. Dad, if you can call him that, didn’t treat my mother very well before he decided to run out.” Caleb’s story was the same one being played out in every honky-tonk from there to the border. “I rebelled. I was angry at her for allowing him to hurt her when he was here. Angry with myself for not jumping in to save her. Mom worked herself too hard to pay the bills. Didn’t have insurance. Didn’t take care of her diabetes. Died when I was fifteen.” The familiar stab of anger and regret punctured him.

“Did you blame yourself?”

“I know a thing or two about feeling like you let someone down. Only hurt yourself with that kind of thinking, though. I found the past is better left there. Best to focus on the here and now. Do that well and the future will take care of itself.”

“Is that your way of saying I should let go?”

“I did plenty of things wrong when I was a child. You could say I was a handful. Dwelling on it doesn’t change what was.”

She studied the room. “Looks like you’re making up for it now.”

Pride filled his chest. “Never felt like I belonged anywhere before here.” He’d been restless lately though. Matt had said Caleb missed having little feet running around. The wounds were still raw from Cissy leaving. Another reason he should keep a safe distance from the woman curled up on his favorite chair. She looked as though she belonged there. “TorJake is a great home.”

“I love the name. How’d you come up with it?”

“My first big sale was a beautiful paint horse. The man who’d sold him to me when he was a pony said he tore up the ground like no other. He’d been calling him Speedy Jake. I joked that I should enter him over at Lone Star Park as ToreUpTheEarthJake. Somehow, his nickname got shortened to TorJake, and it stuck. Had to geld him early on to keep his temperament under control. He had the most interesting, well-defined markings I’ve ever seen. Sold him to a bigwig movie producer in Hollywood to use filming a Western. The sale allowed me to buy neighboring farms and eventually expand to what I have now.”

“Was it always your dream to own a horse ranch?”

“I figured I’d end up in jail or worse. When I landed a job at my first working ranch, I fell in love. A fellow by the name of Hank was an old pro working there. He taught me the ropes. Said he saw something in me. He never had kids of his own. Told me he went to war instead. Became a damn good marine. Special ops. He taught me everything I know about horse ranches and keeping myself out of trouble.”

“Where is he now?”

“He passed away last year.”

“I’m so sorry.” Her moment of distraction faded too fast, and he knew what she was thinking based on the change in her expression. “You don’t think they’ll hurt him, do you?”

He ground his back teeth. “I hope not. I don’t like this situation for more than the obvious reasons. This whole thing feels off. Your sister dies a week ago. Now this with Noah. Could the two be connected somehow?”

Katherine gasped. Her hand came up to cover her mouth. “I didn’t think about how odd the timing is.”

“Maybe she got in a fight with Noah’s father. Was about to reveal who he was. He could be someone prominent. Most missing children are taken by family members or acquaintances, once you rule out runaways, according to the sheriff.”

“Then what about the file?”

“I was thinking about that. Could be a paternity test.”

“If his father took him, at least Noah will be safe, right?” Katherine threaded her fingers through her hair, pulling it off her face.

“It’s possible. I don’t mean any disrespect. Do you think it’s possible your sister was blackmailing him?”

“He didn’t pay child support. That much I know. I paid her tuition. She enrolled in a social program to help with Noah’s care. Got him into a great daycare. I was planning to move to Austin in a few months to be closer. I work for a multinational software company scheduling appointments for our trainers to visit customer sites, so it doesn’t matter where I live. I wanted to be close so I could help out more. I can’t help wondering what kind of person would hurt the mother of his child.”

“I’m probably grasping at straws. We’ll start with trying to figure out who he is. See what happens there.”

“She was reckless before Noah. I thought her life was on track since his diagnosis. She got a part-time job at a coffee shop and enrolled in community college. She reconnected with me.”

His ring tone cut into the conversation. “It’s Matt.” He brought the phone to his ear. “What’s the word?”

“Jimmy found two things out at the Reynolds’ place. A stuffed rabbit and a cell. I told him to meet me at your place.”

“I appreciate the news. We’ll keep watch for you.”

Caleb hit End and told Katherine what his ranch hand had found.

“I hope I got a shot of someone. They wore dark sunglasses, so their faces might be hard to make out, but maybe I captured someone else involved. Like the man who distracted me.”

“Either way, we’ll know in a minute.” Wouldn’t do any good to set false expectations. And yet, hope was all she had.

Looking into her violet eyes, damned if he wasn’t the one who wanted to put it there.

A knock at the door had him to his feet faster than he could tack a horse, and tossing a throw blanket toward Katherine.

Caleb led Jimmy and Matt into the study. After a quick introduction, Jimmy advanced toward Katherine, carrying a phone. “Found this along the tree line by the Reynolds’ place. Look familiar?”

“Yes, thank you. That looks like mine.” Katherine’s eyes sparkled with the first sign of optimism since Caleb had found her in the woods. She checked the screen. “Seven missed calls and a voice mail.”

Another knock sounded at the door. Caleb walked Sheriff Coleman into the study a moment later, before moving to her side. The hope in her eyes was another hint of light in the middle of darkness and blackness, and every worst fear realized.

“Put it on speaker.”

“I’m praying the message is from the kidnappers, but I’m scared it’s them, too.”

Caleb tensed. “Whatever’s on that phone, we’ll deal with it.”

Her gaze locked on to his as she held up the cell and listened.

“What’s wrong with the boy? You have twenty-four hours to help me figure it out and get me the file. I’ll call back with instructions. No more games. Think about it. Tick. Tock.”

Click.

Caleb took the phone and scanned the log. “Private number.” He looked at Coleman. “There any way to trace this call?”

“Doubt it. They’re probably smart enough to use a throwaway. We’ll check anyway.” Coleman scribbled fresh notes. “You mentioned the file before. Has anything come to mind since we last spoke?”

Katherine shook her head. “I’ve been guessing they mean a computer file, but I’m not positive. It could be anything.”

Outside, gravel spewed underneath tires. Caleb moved to the window. Two dark SUVs with blacked-out windows came barreling down the drive. “Sheriff, you tell anybody you were coming here?”

Coleman shook his head. “Didn’t even tell my dispatcher.”

Katherine’s eyes pleaded. She wrapped the blanket around her tighter, clutching the stuffed rabbit Jimmy had handed her. “I don’t have the first clue what file they’re talking about. As soon as they realize it, they’ll kill us both. Don’t let them near me.”

“Dammit. They must’ve followed someone here. The sheriff can cover for us.” Caleb pulled Katherine to her feet as she gripped her handbag. He moved to the kitchen door, stopping long enough for her to slip on her sandals before looking back at his men.

“Can you cover me?”

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